Saturday, April 26, 2008

Post 4 - Sure Evidence That The Book of Mormon's Translation Was of God

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TODAY'S THEME

If you have really read the Book of Mormon as the title of this post series asks, you would have really enjoyed, along with me, Neal Maxwell Institute's Daniel C. Peterson's fireside presentation at the Olivewood Book Store in Provo on April 10, 2008. When one "really" reads the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, as many times as I have been privileged to do, he will have recalled much from that reading of this Book of Books, during Dr. Peterson's captivating presentation.

Sometime, a number of years ago, while studying the Book of Mormon, I noticed that Nephi tells us his father's family's travel direction in Southern Arabia changed to due East at a place named Nahom (I Nephi 16:34). I also noticed then, that before and afterwards, most all locations on their long route were given names by Father Lehi and his fellow travelers, such as the Valley of Lemuel, after his second oldest son and the place by the seashore they named "Bountiful" because of "its much fruit." Dr. Peterson really enjoyed telling his audience about how this Arabian site, Nahom, still bears the same name it did in the day of the prophet, Lehi.

Although Dr. Dan didn't mention it, I remember reading a report from a BYU researcher who reported that there is an ancient burial ground there. Co-incidentally Lehi assisted in burying his relative, Ishmael there.

You will enjoy the convincing description our fireside presenter made of all this evidence which supports that which Joseph Smith told us right along, that this record was made by Hebrew travelers in about 600 B.C. As Dr. Peterson asks, "How could Joseph Smith or any other person in our day, except for a possible Arabian bedeouin who possibly didn't read or write, come up with that ancient, accurate place name."

That is just one of many items Dr. Dan gives to convince us that no-one in Joseph Smith's day could come up with the information we find in the Book of Mormon about such accurate details of ancient Hebrew olive orchard cultivation and details of experiences Book of Mormon people had in the Seismic Disaster described in III Nephi that occured just before the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the relatively small Nephite-Lamanite population that had escaped death at that cataclysmic occasion.

Another matter that Dr. Peterson so ably discussed is how Hebrew language characteristics regularly showed up in the English translation the Lord gave Joseph Smith through direct revelation. He told us that many of those Hebrew language characteristics were changed later by the Prophet Joseph or others in Church leadership to improve the English of this divine translation.

Dr. Dan is so convincing. I have noticed that there were no direct responses on the Internet to the facts that were presented by him that evening. There is no plausible way to dispute the facts that were given us by Dr. Peterson that evening.

It will be very much worth your while to watch this video. You will be viewing Part 2 when you begin. There are five parts to this lecture which lasted about an hour and a half altogether. You can make the other four parts of his lecture available to access at any time, by merely a single left click on the screen just to the right of Dr. Peterson's left shoulder. Dr. Peterson tells us a number of convincing facts in each of them. I had you begin with Part 2, because I found it particularly interesting. You may find parts 1, 3, 4 or 5, particularly interesting. Check them out as you have time!

Daniel C. Peterson

Turn on your computer's speaker now! Click on the arrow on the screen below!

There was something special that I picked up on. I particularly appreciated Dr. Dan's enthusiasm and conviction as to why we should believe the statements of relatives and friends of Josephs Smith's in the Harmony, PA area regarding the actual manner of translating of the Book of Mormon rather than what the sophisticated, modern, easy living, computer wielding ciritcs describe. Our presenter described in great detail things that were reported by these local people regarding the translation. He then pointed out to us that all of these local folks were down-to-earth, practical and pragmatic farmers who really had to hustle to keep alive. He asks whose statements are the most credible, the modern easy-living critics or those Nineteenth century "down-to-earth people" who really knew what they were talking about.

I really appreciated Dr. Dan's enthusiasm for this great helping of convincing information given us throughout his captivating, scholarly, presentation. He apologized beforehand about having to read much of his material, but that wasn't needed because of his captivating enthusiasm. I look forward to future presentations to be made by this good man. He could read all of them as far as I am concerned.

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About Me

I was born Feb. 13, 1932 in Sacramento, CA. I grew up in Roseville, CA. While employed by the LDS Church my family and I lived in Utah, New Mexico, Montana, California, and Missouri. I retired from LDS Family Services in 1996. I owned my own adoption service business for 8 years thereafter. Then my wife, Melva and I served in Finland 2004 - 2006 as missionaries. I also served as a young missionary in Finland from 1952 - 1955. I have nine children (5 daughters, four sons), two step-children, (step-sons) and 27 grandchildren.

From One Mormon's Point of View

So much is being said nowadays on the Internet by people not of the Mormon faith, about the Mormons and their beliefs. Why not learn about us Mormons from one of us. I'm not an official of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, just one of the regular members, yet I'm one who supports Mormon beliefs because I have a testimony and have had much experience that has shown me the truth. I welcome your questions and even criticisms that you have heard, about which you would like the truth. If that is the case, you've come to the right guy.